Guides

How to Clean a Fish Tank: The Ultimate Guide

May 14, 2018 by The Aquatics World Team

Aquarium native hardy fancy gold fish, Red Fantail

The first day you get your new fish tank, it’s sparkling clean.

Then a few weeks later you might notice the tank is getting a little cloudy. You ignore it and move on, but a few more weeks go by and soon your fish tank is starting to look dirty.

In order to keep your fish healthy and prevent the spread of algae, it’s important to keep your fish tank clean and the water fresh.

Proper cleaning methods keep out toxins while still maintaining the helpful bacteria that your fish need to thrive. You can use some supplies already available in your home, but you might need to invest in some specialty products from another retailer.

With a little hard work and some simple cleaning supplies, your fish tank can be sparkling clean once again.

Check out our guide for how to clean a fish tank while still protecting the delicate ecosystem inside your aquarium.

What You’ll Need

Some of these items you might have lying around at home, but others you’ll need to buy from a pet store or online retailer.

Here’s a list of some supplies and tools you should have on hand:

Paper towels
Bath towels
Fish net
Smaller tank/container
Large container/bucket
Algae scraper/pad
Bleach
Glass cleaner (aquarium safe)
Dechlorinated water
Water siphon

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How to Clean a Fish Tank

Cleaning your fish tank regularly is key to keeping your fish happy and healthy. It’s important to prepare the right cleaning schedule so that algae and other residue doesn’t have time to build up.

Follow these steps to learn how to clean a fish tank and do it right.

Step 1) Clearing things out

Start by turning off and unplugging any electrical devices like lights or filters. Make sure that your hands are clean and free of any kind of residue–even soap.

Use some of the water from the original tank and put it in the smaller tank or container. Then use the fish net or a cup to scoop out the fish and put them in the smaller tank until the cleaning process is complete.

Then reach into the tank and remove any decorative pieces like plants, bubbles, or filters. There should be nothing except for rocks and gravel in the tank. You can clean off items in the tank with water and a scrubber before setting them aside for later.

Step 2) Cleaning the water

Now it’s time to begin the actual fish tank cleaning process.

Use a water siphon to remove the dirty water from the tank. Move the siphon quickly up and down several times. Make sure you move through the gravel to remove any debris or fish waste.

A larger bucket or container should be enough to catch the water from the siphon. You also shouldn’t have to worry about vacuuming up the gravel by accident–it will be too heavy.

Keep in mind–you shouldn’t remove more than 75% of the water from the tank. You need to keep some of the healthy bacteria in the water that your fish need to survive, and it will help your fish feel more at ease in the new water.

Step 3) Cleaning the inside glass

Once most of the water has been removed, it’s time to clean the glass.

Use an algae scrubber or pad to clean the sides. There’s a wide range of algae cleaners out there, from regular scrubbers, pads, long-handled sponges, or magnetic scrubbers.

You can also use a glass cleaner with paper towels, but make sure that it’s safe for aquariums. Buy all your cleaning products from a pet shop instead of a department store.

Even if they look the same, household products can have soaps or other chemicals that could hurt your fish.

In the case of any stubborn residue on the glass, you can use a metal or plastic razor blade to scrape it off.

If there’s a lot of algae near the bottom of the tank or you’re worried about dirtying up the water left in your tank, you can remove the remaining 25% of the water into a separate container until you’re done cleaning.

Step 4) Clean the filter

It’s important to keep your filter clean, but there’s a catch. Don’t clean your filter until a week or two after your initial fish tank cleaning.

Here’s why: cleaning your fish tank disturbs the vital bacteria that live on the plants, rocks, and gravel. A lot of this bacteria lives in the filter, so the bacteria ecosystem is still intact.

While it’s definitely important to clean your filter, if you do it at the same time as the tank cleaning, you might cause a dangerous spike in the ammonia levels of the tank.

It’s important that you keep some of the tank’s original water to maintain good bacteria, and be sure to alternate your cleaning of the tank and the filter too.

Step 5) Refill the tank

Now it’s time to put everything back.

If you’ve removed the original tank water for cleaning, pour it back into the tank. Then add the new dechlorinated water. Make sure you leave enough room to put the plants and other extra items, as well as the water you put in the container with your fish.

Even if you’ve already used dechlorinated water, it’s a good idea to add a drop or two of tap water dechlorinator if any tap water was used during the cleaning process. You can also add water conditioner to make sure the water is clean for the fish.

Then add the filter, plants, and other decorative pieces. Plug all the devices back on and then wait about an hour for the water to adjust.

Finally, once the hour is up you can put your fish back into the tank. Be careful to treat them gently and don’t touch them while moving them back to reduce any stress.

Final Thoughts

Once you’ve mastered the basics of how to clean a fish tank, it’s important that you clean it on an ongoing basis so that it never needs a major cleaning again.

Clean the glass every two weeks, vacuum the gravel every time you change the water, and clean any plants as soon as you see algae on them. Check the filter monthly and be sure to alternate with your regular cleaning schedule.

With regular care and a little hard work, your aquarium will look beautiful all the time–and your fish will love it too.

How To Lower Ammonia Levels in Your Fish Tank

May 2, 2018 by The Aquatics World Team

Importance of Checking Ammonia Levels in Your Fish Tank

In order to maintain a healthy environment for your fish, it is crucial that you keep the ammonia levels in the aquarium to a minimum. In reality, no ammonia in the tank is ideal, however, this is nearly impossible to achieve. Therefore, your primary goal should be to keep this level as low as possible.

Ammonia is a combination of hydrogen and nitrogen and if the levels are too high, it could jeopardize the health of your fish. Ammonia can be created by fish feces left in the tank, overcrowded tanks, poor water quality, uneaten food, and decaying plants. If these issues are not taken care of properly, it could cause ammonia toxicity in your fish.

Dangers of High Ammonia Levels

High levels of ammonia can be toxic to your fish and could cause death if not fixed correctly. This is because as the ammonia level rises, the oxygen levels will decrease. Your fish will not be able to survive without the required amount of oxygen. This toxicity can happen very quickly if you are not checking your tank.

Signs of High Ammonia Levels

If the level of ammonia in your tank begins to rise, your fish will start to show signs of distress. Signs of ammonia toxicity include floating near the top of the water gasping for air, reddening or paling of the gills, lethargy, loss of appetite, and little to no swimming.

If your fish are displaying any of these signs, it is crucial that you check the ammonia level right away. You can purchase testing kits at the store that makes it very easy to check the level of ammonia in the water in just minutes. In fact, it is a good idea to test the ammonia levels in your tank on a regular basis, whether your fish are displaying signs of distress or not. If the test reveals high levels of ammonia in the water immediate action is required.

How to Reduce Ammonia Level

The best way to reduce the ammonia level in your tank is to clean out the entire aquarium. You can store your fish in a separate tank while completing this process. You want to remove all the water from the tank, clean the sides and the bottom of the tank, and clean off any gravel, rocks or decorations in the tank. Once this is done, bring the water to the correct temperature and check the ammonia level again. If the level is still high, it may be your tap water. Try using another source or water, such as bottled water, and check the level again.

Maintain a proper ammonia level is imperative to keeping your fish healthy. There are many things you can do, such as avoid overcrowding the tank, not to overfeed the fish, clean the tank on a regular basis, and install of filtration system, to ensure your ammonia levels remain low. Monthly checks of all chemical levels, including your ammonia levels, should also be performed. This will alert you to any problems in the tank before they become a health risk to your fish.

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How To Cure Swim Bladder Disease

May 2, 2018 by The Aquatics World Team

Does Your Fish Have a Swim Bladder Disorder?

Is your fish swimming sideways or upside down? If so, it could have a swim bladder disorder. This disorder affects the fish’s ability to swim properly causing it to either turn upside down or go sideways. Swim bladder disorder is most commonly seen in fancy goldfish. Unfortunately, many people think that the fish has died or is dying when they see them floating upside down. Before you remove the fish from the tank, check to see if the fish is breathing. If it is, this condition may be very easy to fix.

What Is Swim Bladder Disorder?

All fish have a swim bladder, which is an internal organ that is filled with gas. This order controls the fish’s buoyancy and gives it the ability to swim effortlessly throughout the tank. If this organ stops functioning properly, it will directly affect the fish’s ability to swim. Depending on the fish and the severity of the disorder, this will cause the fish to flip on its back, swim sideways, or sometimes swim with its tail higher than its head.

Causes for Swim Bladder Disorder

There are several reasons why your fish may have this disorder, including constipation, overeating, eating low quality fish food, a cyst on its kidney, or even a sudden change in tank conditions. On the other hand, this could be a sign of an infection. This is especially true if your fish is displaying other signs of distress, such as dropsy or clamped fins. If several fish in your tank are showing signs of swim bladder disorder, your tank conditions are most likely the problem. The good news is that this can be fixed quickly and effectively.

Treatment the Disorder

Since it will be impossible to determine exactly what the cause behind the swim bladder disorder is, you will need to treat for a variety of problems. The first step is to check the water temperature of the tank. You can even raise the temperature slightly to between 70°F and 80°F. This can help greatly with constipation. You should also refrain from feeding the fish for 48 hours. This will give the fish time to process the food already in its system.

If no improvement is seen within 48 hours, start your fish on a high fiber diet. Peas are a good choice and can be cooked and then peeled before feeding to the fish. You can also try a salt treatment, by adding one tablespoon of aquarium salt for every five gallons of water in the tank. If there is still no improvement, treat with antibiotic fish food to treat any type of infection the fish may have.

Many times, fish will start showing improvement with an increase in the water temperature and/or fasting. However, it is always best to keep a close eye on your fish during the recovery period to make sure that the swim bladder disorder does not return. In almost all cases, this disorder can be treated effectively and the fish will return to swimming normally after just a few days.

How To Cure Ich Disease

May 2, 2018 by The Aquatics World Team

Ich Disease Should be Taken Seriously

Ichthyophthirius (Ich) disease is a parasitic disease that is commonly referred to as the white spot disease. This is because the disease is most recognizable by the white spots that appear on the fish’s body and gills. This is one of the most common illnesses that effects freshwater fish and one that will most likely affect your aquarium at some point

Unfortunately, many fish keepers consider Ich disease nothing more than a nuisance. However, the truth is that numerous fish die every year from Ich disease. This may be due to the fact the many fish owner does not treat this disease as aggressively as they should.

What is Ich Disease?

Ich disease occurs when the parasite burrows itself into the skin of the fish. It will live there for several days feeding off the blood and skin of the fish. The fish will be very agitated and may be seen rubbing against the sides of the tank or rocks seeking comfort. After several days, the parasite will leave the host and lay several hundred eggs, which will seek out a host once they hatch.

Most fish develop immunity to the Ich disease over time, but if their immune system is weakened for any reason, this illness can attack. Stress is usually a contributing factor, which can be caused by poor water conditions, a drastic change in the water temperature, an overcrowded tank, or improper diet. Although, removing any of these stressors from the fish tank is a good first step, it may not be enough to cure the fish.

Symptoms of Ich Disease

As stated earlier, the best way to detect Ich disease is by observing the white spots on the body and gills of the fish. You may also notice that the fish has become lethargic and is floating close to the top or the bottom of the tank. As the disease progresses, the fish may become severely agitated, display signs of a respiratory problem, and have a decreased appetite.

Effective Treatment

The first step is always to improve the overall conditions of the tank. It should be cleaned thoroughly, including the gravel, rocks, and decorations. You can also change out about 40% of the water. If you have any type of fish other than cold-water fish, like goldfish and Koi fish, you can try elevating the water in the tank to between 70°F and 80°F. This will speed up the lifespan of the parasite and make it easier to eliminate.

Next, you want to add a treatment, such as malachite green or chelated copper, to kill the parasite. This is most likely to kill only the adult form of the parasite and not the eggs. Therefore, treatment will need to be repeated in five days. Your fish should be treated with a parasitic antibiotic for at least 10 to 14 days to heal any infection caused by the lesions. As always, it is recommended to remove any active carbon from your tank and filter prior to introducing any treatment to the tank.

How Long Do Goldfish Live For?

May 2, 2018 by The Aquatics World Team

What Is the Lifespan of Goldfish?

Many people erroneously believe that goldfish have relatively short lifespans. This belief comes from the fact that many are won as prizes at the local fair or carnival commonly die within just a few days or weeks. Many people contribute this to them having a short lifespan, when in fact these premature deaths are cause by inadequate care.

The truth is that goldfish can live up to 25 years in their natural habitat and between 5 to 25 years as a pet. In fact, the oldest goldfish ever recorded was an amazing 43 years old. The problem is not only poor living conditions at the fair, but also the fact the many people do not know how to care for their fish properly.

Adequate Space

Many families that win a goldfishes at the fair bring it home and place in a fishbowl. These bowls are usually too small for the fish to survive. After all, the standard fish can grow to be about 10-inches long. Most fishbowls cannot support this size of fish.

Experts, say that just one gold fish requires a minimum of 20 to 30 gallons of water. This would require a rather large fish tank. However, outdoor fishponds make a great alternative for goldfish. Depending on the size of the pond, a goldfish can flourish in this type of environment and last for many years to come.

Overfeeding

Another common cause of premature death in goldfish is overfeeding. Many families feed their fish too much food every day. A goldfish only needs a small pinch of food one time a day. This uneaten food will fall to the bottom of the tank and increase the risk of bacteria, which can lead to infections and disease. High quality flake food is the best type of food to use for your goldfish.

Clean Tank

Goldfish require a lot of care if you want them to stay healthy and live for many years. It is very important that their tank be kept clean at all times. This may require you to clean the tank two to three times each monthly and/or to have a filtration system in place. You also need to clean the gravel at the bottom of the tank thoroughly, as well as, any decorations inside the tank.

Disease

Even if you care for your fish properly, there are still many types of illnesses and diseases goldfish can have. Whether your purchased your fish at the store or won it at the carnival, it could be at risk for infection and disease. This is because goldfish are typically stored in overcrowded tanks that are not cleaned adequately. If your fish came in contact with other sick fish that are at a higher risk for also getting sick.

It is always best to prepare for your fish before bringing it home. This will allow you to create the ideal environment to place your fish as soon as you purchase it. You should also carefully observe your fish for the first several weeks and look for any symptoms of illness, injury, or disease. If any problems are detected, you can quickly treat the fish and increase its overall lifespan.

How To Cure Hole In The Head Disease

May 2, 2018 by The Aquatics World Team

What Is Hole in the Head disease and How to Treat It?

Freshwater Head and Lateral Line Erosion (FHLE), more commonly referred to as hole in the head, is a devastating disease the typically effects freshwater fish, but can also attack saltwater fish. This disease is very recognizable because it causes lesions on the head of the fish. These lesions may even produce a parasitic discharge that may look like small threads. This condition can be very deadly to your fish if not given immediate treatment.

Causes for Hole in the Head disease

There are several things that may cause hole in the head, including undo stress on the fish, an imbalance in the tank, or a parasitic infection. Fish living in aquariums with less than ideal water conditions may be more prone to this disease. Problems like overcrowding and poor water quality add stress to the fish and lower its ability to fight against these types of diseases.

Hole in head disease can also be caused by a nutrient imbalance in the tank. If any chemicals are off balance, it can cause harm to the fish over time. Some fish keepers believe that activated carbons may in fact remove some minerals from the water that are actually beneficial to the fish. They also believe that the lack of these minerals in the water can put the fish at risk for FHLE disease.

The most common cause, however, is a parasitic infection referred to as Hexamita. This parasite will attach to its host’s head. As time progresses the effects of this parasite can attack the gall bladder, kidney, and spleen of the fish. Once this takes place, treatment may no longer be effective. In addition, the lesions on the head leave the fish open for all types of bacterial infections that could only make the fish sicker.

Effective Treatment

Since the primary cause of the disease will be unknown, it is recommended to provide multiple treatments to ensure success. The first step is to make sure the water quality of your tank is perfect. Check water temperature, along with all chemical levels and make any necessary adjustments. Change out some of the water to provide fresh, clean water to the tank.

You should also treat the tank with an antibiotic metronidazole. It is important to treat the entire tank because you cannot be sure if the cause for the disease can spread to other fish. You can also improve your fish’s diet during treatment, by using only high quality fish food. You can also give you fish some seaweed or even cooked broccoli, just make sure that it is soft and cooled down before giving it to the fish.

Identifying and treating any fish with hole in the head disease can help to save its life. Once this disease progressive too far along, it is often difficult to cure. Careful observation of your fish on a daily basis is encouraged. This will not only help you detect hole in the head early on, but it may also alert you to other illnesses and injuries your fish has. Quick action will help you save the fish and protect the other fish living in the tank.

How To Cure Gill Mites

May 2, 2018 by The Aquatics World Team

How to Prevent an Outbreak of Gill Mites

Whether living in their natural habitat or a home aquarium, freshwater fish are susceptible to many types of illnesses and parasites. The risk of illness or disease is increased when the fish is under any type of stress, such as poor water conditions or a sudden change in the temperature or chemical balance of the water. This stress will lower the fish’s overall immune system and put them at greater risk for disease.

Gill mites are a common parasite that feed on the blood and skin particles of its hosts. They are less than 1mm in size, but they can wreak havoc on your fish. This type of parasite is very common and can spread throughout the tank very quickly. These mites tend to latch onto the gill area of the fish, causing the fish pain and distress. The good news is that these mites can be treated very effectively if caught in the early stages.

Gill Mite Prevention

The most common way for gill mites to affect an entire aquarium is when a new fish, which has been infected with mites, is put into the tank. Many fish keeper quarantine all new fish for several days before introducing them into their normal tank. This will give you time to observe the fish for any types of diseases. If gill mites are detected, you should treat the new fish in the quarantine tank until all signs of the disease are gone.

Symptoms of Gill Mites

As the gill mites attack the fish, you will notice that the gill area of the fish is red and/or infected. The gills will be partially opened due to the effects of the mites. As the disease progresses the fish may experience some respiratory problems and can be seen gasping for breath at the top of the water. You may also notice that the fish is lethargic, because the parasite is depleting its energy. If left untreated, the disease could prove fatal.

Gill Mite Treatment

The main treatment for gill mites is a combination of sterazin and octozin. This treatment should be repeated in about five days to kill any new hatchlings that were not eliminated with the first treatment. You can also use antibiotic to treat any infection caused by the lesions the parasite leaves behind.

If you were able to quarantine the fish before adding it to the tank, you will only need to treat the new fish. However, you cannot add the fish to the regular tank until all symptoms are gone. If your aquarium has been exposed to gill mites, you will need to treat the entire tank. These parasites can spread very quickly, so immediate attention is required.

The best way to prevent gill mites is to eliminate the risk of exposing them to your aquarium. While it may take a little longer to add your new fish to your tank, the extra time you took will be worth it. In fact, you may not only save the life of your new fish, but you will also prevent unwanted diseases from attacking the fish already in your aquarium.

Fish Tank Buyers guide

May 2, 2018 by The Aquatics World Team

Are you looking to buy your first fish tank or even upgrade from the one you currently have but are stuck and unsure of what to buy? On this page we are going to look at some tips to help you make the right choice.

The first step in the process of buying the right tank is to ask your self what fish you want to keep? For example, the type of tank required for you to keep goldfish will be a whole lot different to one if you want to keep neon’s etc.

Have a budget in mind! Setting up your first aquarium is going to be quite expensive, no matter if its fresh water, salt water or marine. Having a budget in mind will help you be able to find what’s right for you! Plan the fish you keep around what you can afford!

Smaller tanks obviously cost much less to buy, set up and run! They require smaller filters, smaller lights and more importantly less chemicals, which over the lifetime of which you own the aquarium can save you a considerable amount.

The downside to smaller aquariums is the limit on the amount of fish and in some cases the type of fish you can keep. Goldfish are pretty messy fish and can grow really big which not a lot of people ever consider when buying! Thankfully nowadays respectful aquatic shops ask how big your fish tank is and how many fish you have before they will allow you to buy fish.

Larger aquariums not only look the part but also open the doors to you being able to keep more fish in terms of quantity together with larger sized fish. The downside to this is they will use more electricity to run (pumps, filters and lights) together with requiring more chemicals such as water conditioner and medicines, not to mention the amount of maintenance they require.

The next thing you need to consider is where you will be keeping the tank! Make sure you do your research here in terms of finding the maximum measurements you can accommodate! Don’t guess! The last thing you want is buying a tank that’s too big for where you want to place it! The most important thing to consider here is, where you’re placing the fish tank strong enough to accommodate the weight of the tank when it’s filled up with water? For some fish tanks you can buy a cabinet specifically built to take the weight of the tank, but for others you need to provide your own placeholder so to speak! It’s said that a litre of water weights roughly 1kg in weight! So base that on a 125 Litre fish tank! That’s around 125KG of weight! Are you really sure little coffee table can hold that kind of weight :D, just some food for thought!

When choosing the location of your tank. It’s worth considering these two factors! Where possible do not place your tank near to windows and doors! Lets start with windows! Keeping your tank near a window can cause a few problems! First it can alter the temperature of your tank together with accelerating the growth of algae!

Time! How much free time do you have? Do you have the time to keep on top of cleaning a large aquarium? Lots of new fish keepers do not realize how much time looking after a fish tank takes! It really isn’t as easy as putting your fish in water and leaving it! They require weekly water changes, gravel vacuuming etc. In a large aquarium this can add up to quite a long time!
Now you have an idea of your budget, the kind of fish you would like to keep and the size of the tank your able to fit in your house, you can begin your search! This should be the fun part! What id say is always choose a reputable / popular brand such as Aqua One, Fluval or Juwel. These companies specialise in manufacturing tanks and they are superior quality. There are tons of shapes from curved to square, tower and bowls. Read reviews, speak to experts but more importantly shop around!
Fish tanks are expensive! There is no getting away from that! If you’re on a really tight budget it certainly doesn’t mean you cant have an impressive tank! You can often pick some pretty awesome tanks up on the second hand market! Check out places like Gumtree and eBay! You can often pick a tank up for less than half the price of what it would have cost new!

Buying a second hand fish tank tips:

If buying second hand, make sure you view the tank before entering in to any kind of bid / buy it now contract! 9 times out of 10 the tank will be exactly as described but sometimes there can be a bad egg amongst the mix. If you can’t view before the listing ends check the seller’s feedback! If they have a good feedback score it can put your mind at ease!
Make sure you inspect the tank for damage! Check the seals between the glass panels! Do they look intact? Are there any chips in the glass etc.? If anything looks dodgy, walk away! The last thing you want is to go to the extent of setting your tank up, getting your fish to have a leaky tank!
Remember your budget! Don’t get involved in a bidding war, which takes you over it! There will ALWAYS be another tank that comes up.
Make sure you can transport the tank from the seller to your home! It’s no good turning up to pick a 200+ litre tank up in a tiny car! It’s going to be a bit difficult!
Make a list of everything that was included in the listing and make sure its there when you collect! I’ve forgot to pick the odd thing up in the past, which is just silly and annoying.
Remember if something sounds too good to be true, then it normally is! If you see a tank that would normally cost £1000+ going for £50 something is a miss!
Ask any questions before making the leap in to buying! Make sure the heater, filter, lights etc. all work! If something isn’t working factor in how much a replacement will cost! When I bought my aqua one 500 I bought it knowing that only one bulb was working! I priced a replacement bulb up which was £7 (Not bad but an extra cost to me)

Now you have your tank, you will need some ornaments to fill it with. Obviously you can get a lot of these from your local pet shop but one place you should definitely consider is “The Range”. They have some fantastic items and rock bottom prices!

How To Cure Fish Lice

May 2, 2018 by The Aquatics World Team

Protect Your Pond from Freshwater Fish Lice

Fish lice are the largest known parasite to attack freshwater fish, especially goldfish and Koi fish. Instead of attacking home aquariums, fish lice are most commonly found in outdoor ponds. This can make treating them effectively very difficult and timely. However, without proper treatment, all the fish in your pond could eventually die.

Fish lice are visible to the naked eye, but they may try to hide in places on the fish’s body that make them hard to see. They have powerful claws and hooks that they use to latch onto the fish. They will use their hooks to puncture the skin repeatedly to make it easier to feed on the skin particles and blood. This can be extremely painful for the fish.

These lesions on the skin of the fish also make the fish more susceptible to many types of bacterial infections. In addition, lice can carry an array of diseases and infections with them that can easily be transmitted to its host. It is imperative that you try to eliminate any infestation as quickly as possible.

Symptoms of Fish Lice

As the lice attack the fish, you will notice the fish trying to rub against the rocks or bottom of the pond to find relief from the pain. Your fish may also stop eating and become lethargic due to lack of energy. Due to blood loss, the color of the fish will start to fade and the fish will spend more and more time at the bottom of the pond. If your fish are displaying any of these symptoms, take a closer look at their body. You should be able to detect fish lice quite easily.

Effective Treatment and Preventative Measures

Female lice can lay up to 2,000 eggs at a time, which can lead to a full lice outbreak within just days. Immediate treatment is required. If possible, you can pull the affected fish out of the water and use tweezers to remove the lice from its body. If this is done, Neosporin should be used to treat the lesion. In addition, a salt treatment and a treatment specifically for fish lice should be use. It is also recommended to use an antibiotic to treat the fish for any infections caused by the infestation.

Since these parasites can spread very quickly, you may need to treat the water four or more time before all the lice are gone. Continually, check your fish over the next several weeks to ensure there is not another outbreak of lice. Many pond owners regularly treat their pond for lice just to be safe. This type of precautionary treatment will protect your fish against this dangerous parasite.

Many people also quarantine any new fish for up to two week before releasing them into their pond. This will not only protect your pond against fish lice, but you may also be able to prevent numerous other diseases from entering your pond. Inspect your new fish on a daily basis and treat any disease as soon as it is detected.

How To Cure Fin Rot

May 2, 2018 by The Aquatics World Team

Fin Rot Is Preventable and Treatable

Fin rot is a very common disease found in freshwater fish tanks, and it is also one of the most preventable conditions effecting fish. While the disease is caused by some type of bacterial infection, the underlying reason is always the aquarium environment. This means that only fish in aquariums with less than ideal conditions are susceptible to it. However, if caught early enough the infection is treatable.

Stress Factors

Any fish under stress is at risk. This stress could be caused by a variety of factors, such as poor water quality, an overcrowded fish tank, eating outdated fish food, moving to a new tank, or in a tank with aggressive fish. If your fish are living under any of these conditions, they are at great risk for the bacterial infection and precautions should be taken.

Detecting Fin Rot

Fin rot is typically very easy to detect, even at the early stages. The fins of your fish will start to turn white around the edges. As time progresses the fins will start to fray at the ends and the base will show signs of an infection. At the later stages of this disease, the fin may actually even fall off. This will greatly affect your fish’s ability to survive in the tank. In many cases, a fish with fin rot will also develop cotton wood disease, which produces a wool-like coating over the fish’s body, mouth, and fin.

Immediate Treatment Required

While this disease is treatable, immediate attention is required. Once fin rot progresses to a severe state, you may no longer be able to save the fish. The first step is to clean the entire tank, including the gravel and decorations, and change out some of the tanks water. Begin antibiotics immediately and continue for at least seven to ten days. You should also perform a salt treatment on the entire tank to protect all the fish in the aquarium. Add one tablespoon of salt for every five gallons of water.

Daily Checks

During the duration of the treatment, it is important that you check the tank conditions on a daily basis. This included checking the water temperature, pH balance, and other chemical levels. Make immediate adjustments as necessary to keep your tank in ideal condition. You also want to avoid overfeeding and remove any aggressive fish to a secondary tank. It is also crucial to keep your tank clean and free from fish feces and decaying food and plants, which can increase bacteria growth in the tank.

You can avoid it from attacking your fish, by simply keeping your aquarium at ideal conditions at all times. Regular maintenance and careful observation of your fish can keep this deadly condition at bay. If left untreated, it is almost always fatal. This means that you must start treatment the minute you notice any whitening around the edges of your fish’s fin. If you wait until the symptoms are more extensive, you will likely be too late for corrective treatment.